Sarah Drew
She brought a grounded, earnest humanity to a decade of Grey's Anatomy, evolving from a rigid intern into a fan-favorite surgeon navigating faith and love.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American actress·Birthday: October 1·Generation X
Biography
Sarah Drew built a career on making the earnest compelling. A theater kid from New York, she cut her teeth with voice work on the slyly subversive 'Daria' before landing a breakout role on the family drama 'Everwood.' But it was her arrival at Seattle Grace as Dr. April Kepner on 'Grey's Anatomy' that defined her. For nearly a decade, Drew embodied Kepner's journey from a rule-following, devout 'cardio god' intern through profound personal and professional crises, grounding the show's high-stakes melodrama with a relatable vulnerability. Her chemistry with Jesse Williams' character Jackson Avery sparked one of the show's most enduring and debated love stories. After leaving the series, she seamlessly pivoted to directing and leading lighter fare, including Hallmark's cozy mystery series, proving her range extends far beyond the OR.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Sarah was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sarah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Sarah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Dr. April Kepner for over 200 episodes across nine seasons of the landmark medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy'.
- Starred as Hannah Rogers in the critically praised family drama series 'Everwood' for its entire four-season run.
- Voiced the character Stacy Rowe on the influential animated series 'Daria' for multiple seasons.
- Made her feature film directorial debut with 'Starfish,' a drama she also co-wrote and produced.
Did You Know?
She is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she earned a degree in drama.
She and her 'Grey's Anatomy' co-star Jesse Williams performed a scene in American Sign Language for a pivotal episode.
She is an avid baker and has shared her recipes and baking adventures on social media.
She played the lead role in the indie film 'Moms' Night Out,' which was a surprise box office success.
“I think the most interesting characters are the ones who are deeply flawed and deeply human.”
